IWW0902_Peakflow_Brochure_final:IWW0821 Heart_Diabetes.qxp
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Respiratory Series – Asthma
Go With the Flow
Asthma triggers include:
• Pollen from the air or plants
• Animal or pet hair
• Exercise
• Smoke
A peak flow meter is a small machine that you can carry with you. It measures
how well air moves out of your lungs when you breathe. Peak flow meters
tell you if your asthma is in control or getting worse. They are used to
check your asthma the way that blood pressure cuffs are used to check high
blood pressure.
During an asthma episode, the airways of your lungs can narrow slowly. The peak
flow meter may help warn you hours before you have any asthma symptoms.
• Dust mites
• Cold air or weather changes
• Infections
Having asthma control means you:
Have no sudden asthma episodes
Have few or no symptoms
Don’t use your rescue inhaler every day
Have your Personal Best Peak Flow reading (see other side)
Can be active and exercise
Don’t miss school or work because of asthma
Don’t wake from sleep due to your asthma
A peak flow meter can be used to:
Check how your asthma is doing after taking your medication
Help your physician know when and how to change your medicine
Watch how your asthma is doing over time
Warn you when your asthma is headed for trouble so that you can better
avoid an asthma attack
Help to decide when emergency treatment is needed
Help identify exercise-induced asthma
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Go With the Flow
Poor asthma control
happens when you don’t get
the help you need in time.
Your doctor can best show
A peak flow reading gives you and your doctor an idea of how well your
asthma is in control. Peak flow readings can be done before and after being
around an asthma trigger.
Peak flow meters can be used during the spring or summer when your asthma
may get worse. Talk to your doctor about your own asthma action plan.
This plan will tell you what to do based on peak flow readings and symptoms.
you how to use your peak
flow meter.
Peak Flow Meter Reading
Stand up
Make sure your peak flow meter is clean
Make sure the indicator is on the zero mark
Take a deep breath and put the mouthpiece of the peak flow meter in your mouth
Close your lips tightly around the mouthpiece and blow out as hard and as
quick as you can
Make sure to not let your tongue block the mouthpiece
Ask your doctor to
Repeat this two more times and write the highest number of the three blows
help you fill out an asthma
Personal Best
action plan.
Your personal best is found by measuring and writing down your morning
and night peak flow numbers for 2 weeks. Check your peak flow readings
at the same time and in the same situations. The highest number recorded
becomes your personal best. Your personal best will help your doctor in
creating your asthma action plan.
Like a traffic light, this helps
you understand what your
peak flow meter readings
mean. Your goal is to have
your peak flows in the
Green Zone.
PPC120904
References
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Diseases and Conditions Index. Asthma. Available at:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_Treatments.html
American Lung Association. Available at: www.lungusa.org